Lamictal

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Seamus - 11 Nov 2003 03:11 GMT

My neurologist has suggested I begin taking Lamictal (I've been on Dilantin
since being diagnosed with a seizure disorder 11 years ago). I've never had
a problem with Dilantin but from what I hear, Lamictal is a much newer drug
with less side effects. My question is pretty straight forward: Has anyone
experienced negative side effects (dizziness, weight gain, excessive
tiredness etc) while taking Lamictal?

Thanks.
Joanna
I

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Bob - 11 Nov 2003 03:31 GMT

> My neurologist has suggested I begin taking Lamictal (I've been on Dilantin
> since being diagnosed with a seizure disorder 11 years ago). I've never had
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Joanna
> I

Lamictal is known for the rash that some people develop from it and which can
be fatal! I started taking it and was getting positive results from it, but I
developed a rash and it was discontinued immediately! and was given other meds
to counteract the rash effect.

That's just to answer your question. If I were you, I'd give it a try if you
are still having problems while on Dilantin.

Bob

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Earl - 11 Nov 2003 05:39 GMT

Hi Joanna~

I was on Dilantin b4 same like u~
but i have switched to take on Lamictal since i had side effects on
Dilantin( i have rash all over my body)

When i was just starting the Lamictal~i did expeirence dizziness all day
long, double vision and extreme tiredness. However, once u get used of this
medicine, u will be all fine (of coz not talking about the rash)

Hope the information helps

cheers,
cindy

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Dave ???? - 11 Nov 2003 06:49 GMT

Howdy Joanna!

Is Dilantin controlling your seizures?

If it is, why change it?

Signature

Dave ????
"Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus"

http://www.howdydave.com

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Seamus - 12 Nov 2003 00:33 GMT

Hi. Yes Dilantin is controling my seizures (as long as I take it regularly)
however it's an old med. My neurologist suggested Lamictal because it seems
to work better for women, particularly in the area of reproductive health.
Also, I've found on Dilantin that my ability to focus goes up and down,
depending on the levels of it in my blood. So...for these reasons, I'm
gradualy changing and will hope for the best.

Thanks.
Joanna

"Dave ????" <dave@_nospam_howdydave.com

> wrote in message news:kE%rb.15403$Xd4.6327@news02.roc.ny...
> Howdy Joanna!
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> > Joanna
> > I

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gaross - 12 Nov 2003 03:42 GMT

I don't have experience with Lamictal. But some of the stuff you posted
could as easily apply to my Tegretol and our (former) Dilantin. Many of the
Anti Ep drugs are set at a particular level so that a stable level is
maintained in the blood. Taking them at different frequencies than the Dr.
sets out, or stopping abruptly with Tegretol, and likely Dilantin and
Lamictal, can sometimes produce 'recoil effects' or seizures that make
control difficult.
Second, if the Doctor assumes you were taking e.g. 2 pills a day for 3
weeks then does bloodwork and finds your levels are 'Low', they could
increase your dose rate to try compensate. If you had only been skipping
doses from time to time ahead of that bloodwork, you then could end up with
an overdose of a medication. Neither a high dose nor a low dose are good
with some of our pills.
I have trouble remembering rates he had prescribed like above, so I kept
both a Paper log (that I took to my Doctor when I was first diagnosed until
I got full control [1993-6] ), AND I got a Weekly Pill Case from the
Druggist that was handy to pre-measure the doses.
I don't know if Prompt withdrawal or missing doses applies with Lamictal
(the druggist likely would include that on instructions with prescriptions /
or it would be on the efa.org med. glossary), but it Does apply with
Dilantin, Frisium (clobazam) and Tegretol.
(The efa.org website address is listed within Howdy Dave's or Julie's
Idaho Websites if you haven't visited it yet.) HTH, G.R./

> Hi. Yes Dilantin is controling my seizures (as long as I take it regularly)
> however it's an old med. My neurologist suggested Lamictal because it seems
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> >
> > > My neurologist has suggested I begin taking Lamictal (I've been on

Dilantin

> > > since being diagnosed with a seizure disorder 11 years ago). I've

never had

> > > a problem with Dilantin but from what I hear, Lamictal is a much newer

drug

> > > with less side effects. My question is pretty straight forward: Has

anyone

> > > experienced negative side effects (dizziness, weight gain, excessive
> > > tiredness etc) while taking Lamictal?
> > > Thanks.
> > > Joanna

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Dave ???? - 12 Nov 2003 04:41 GMT

Howdy Joanna!

I've got a quick, tough question for you!

Dilantin controls your seizures (I envy you, I have NEVER had seizure
control!)...

You must make a choice between:
Controlled seizures and
Ability to focus.

YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE 1!!! Which one will it be?

The reason I ask that question is that as of right now you KNOW that if you
stay with dilantin you will have your seizures under controll. You have no
such garantee if you decide that you might like to try something else.

Do you drive? you will probably have some seizures during the change-over
before they get the Lamictal up to full theraputic levels. That will mean
losing your license!

BTW: "Ability to focus" problems are classic problems with epilepsy.
Problems focusing are not necessarily a side effect of a medication. Is the
problem because of the amount of a chemical in your blood or because of
epileptic activity in the brain? Who can say for sure?

Go where your heart leads you.

I still abide by the adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Signature

Dave ????
"Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus"

http://www.howdydave.com

> Hi. Yes Dilantin is controling my seizures (as long as I take it regularly)
> however it's an old med. My neurologist suggested Lamictal because it seems
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> > > Joanna
> > > I

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Seamus - 12 Nov 2003 16:22 GMT

This may sound odd but since I 've never had a problem with seizure control
(provided I take my med) the fact that I could start having such an issue
never occurred to me. But I'm not too worried about it. To be honest, I
average about 1 grand mal seaizure a year (though I haven't had one now in
almost 2 ). I get auras more often but I've learned to use some relaxation
techniques to control them. Sounds weird but it works fo rme.

I'm guess I'm not too sure whether or not my trouble focusing is Dilantin
related, a direct cause of my epilepsy, or it may just be me. But, as I
wrote earlier, I've been concerend about the effects of Dilantin. It's such
an old drug and the majority of trials were done on men. It's only in the
last few years that there's been research done on Dilantin's affect on
female health issues like reproduction and bone density--women who take
Dilantin lose lots of bone mass. Apparently Lamictal does not cause this any
more than what occurs naturally over time. I'm actually OK on that front but
my neurologist thinks that's because I'm a marthoner and eat fairly well.

I live in NYC, don't own a car, and don't drive very often when I leave.
Now that I'm in mid-switch (started yesterday) I'll be extra careful when
visitng the folks. I also won't stand too close to the edge of the subway
platform.

Spekaing of which, I'm late.

Thanks for your thoughts.
--Joanna

> Howdy Joanna!
>
[quoted text clipped - 74 lines]
> > > > Joanna
> > > > I

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MLZ - 20 Nov 2003 05:31 GMT

Hi Joanna,

Up until this past summer, i had been taking 500 mg depakote
(monotherapy) to control the occasional seizures I've had for the past
nine years. Then - I got a new, female neurologist - and she wanted
to switch me to Lamictal immediately! the depakote had been
controlling the seizures completely when i took it as
prescribed....but there were fears and issues with bone density, birth
defects, ovarian cysts - you name it. I had a rather long "weaning"
period - and now I am on 200 mg of Lamictal every day, exclusively.
Overall - it has been FANTASTIC. Definite "spaciness" every time I
increased dosage - but it fades, I promise. I have had some
difficulties sleeping (early waking) and some mild twitches in the
morning. Those have been the only side effects that i can see....and
compared to the valproate - I am thrilled! Lamictal wasn't
recommended for the types of seizures I have, but my neuro gambled,
and it's worked out so well. Please keep the group posted on how the
switch goes for you.....

Oh yeah - and when I lost the depakote, I lost 10 lbs, too....no
weight gain, hair loss that I have noticed. Maybe a bit of extra fuzz
on my belly - just in time for winter ;)

Best of luck,

Megan

> This may sound odd but since I 've never had a problem with seizure control
> (provided I take my med) the fact that I could start having such an issue
[quoted text clipped - 106 lines]
> > > > > Joanna
> > > > > I

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Seamus - 22 Nov 2003 20:30 GMT

Hi Meghan. Thanks for your input and support! I've been taking 50 mg of
Lamictal for 1 1/2 weeks now combined with 400 mg of Dilantin(per my
neurologist). So far it's been fine. I've been very tired and definitely
spacey/dizzy/unfocused (almost fell full on into the garbage in my
classroom which sent my 5th graders into a complete spin) but these things
aren't taking too much of a toll on me. I'm a big runner so for me the
hardest part about all this is being too tired to run when I get up before
school and too tired when I get home from work. I'm hoping that fades soon
but everyone tells me the transition lasts for some weeks. Next week I up
the dosage to 100 mg and am expecting more of the same sleepy and dizzy
spells. What can you do?

I'm actually feeling that I've lost weight despite not running and my hair
is as messy as ever so it's all good.

I'll keep posting about my progress. Thanks again.
-Joanna

> Hi Joanna,
>
[quoted text clipped - 133 lines]
> > > > > > Joanna
> > > > > > I

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Bob - 11 Nov 2003 14:21 GMT

One thing I noticed about Lamactil w/ myself is that it is not very
forgiving. If I miss a dose I can have seizure lickety split. Another
thing that happens is that if I take too much I have a seizure as well.
In that way it is stressful for me. If Topamax had worked out, I
would have preferred that. One more thing about Lamactil is that I
think I lose weight on this drug for some reason. I thought I was
imagining it but it is documented. Like all neuro drugs, your results
could very significantly, just giving my experience. I continue to take it.

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Situation_Toasted - 12 Nov 2003 01:31 GMT

I've copied the following from the "Consumer Medicine Information" flyer in
each packet.

POSSIBLE side effects are:
. diziness/unsteadiness
. headache
. drowsiness
. feeling sick (nausea)
. vomiting
. feeling week
. double vision
. blurred vision
. tremor
. trouble sleeping
. depression
. loss of memory
. confusion
. irtitability/aggression
. increased activity in children
In general, these side effects during the first few weeks of treatment ...

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
. any skin reactiion
. swelling of the face, lips or tongue
. sore mouth or sore eyes
. a high temperature
. swollen glands
. drowiness
. easy bruising
. yellow skin (jaundice)
These are all serious conditions

See doctor or go to hospital casualty if you get:
. wheezing
. swelling of the lips or mouth
. difficulty breathing
. hay fever
. lumpy rash (hives)
. fainting

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Mark Cruger - 12 Nov 2003 07:37 GMT

Hi

I have been on lamotrigine for 13 years and never had any problems with it.
Only with the tegretol i am taking and they havent been too bad, just a tiny
bit of dizziness in the ealry stages. But keep us informed.

13 years its been around so its not too new. Just one of the newer. Oh its
too early for me to think im making any sense sorry . Just go for it,.

Isabelle xxxxx

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